"My Guy"

Traditionally a POW-MIA bracelet is worn until the man, named on the bracelet, is accounted for. Whether it be for 25 days or 25 years, the bracelet is worn and the man remembered.

After Operation Homecoming, those who wore bracelets with the names of returned POWs began to send the bracelets to the men and their families. Unfortunately, only 591 men returned and thousands of men remained Prisoner or Missing with tens of thousands of bracelets still being worn.

Once Homecoming was completed, the repatriation of remains began. It was during this time that the tradition of returning a man's bracelet to his family began. Throughout the years the remains return program has met with varying successes and dismal failures, yet, remains continue to be repatriated. Some identifications are accepted by the families, some are challenged. Nonetheless, the tradition of returning bracelets remains a part of the POW MIA history.

The following is the correct procedure for returning a POW MIA bracelet to the family of an accounted-for POW-MIA.

1. Write a letter to the family of the POW-MIA servicemember. Please make sure to include all contact information in the event the family chooses to contact you.

2. Place the letter to the family and the bracelet in an envelope. Write your return address and simply address the envelope:

To The Family Of (Servicemember's Name)

3. Place double postage on the envelope and seal it.

4. Write a letter to the Defense Prisoner and Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) and in the letter explain that this is a bracelet return and request that the contents be forwarded to the family.

5. Place the DPMO request letter and the To The Family Of envelope inside another envelope and address it to -

Department of Defense,
Defense Prisoner Of War/Missing Personnel Office
2400 Defense Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301-2400
Attention Mr. Chuck Henley/POW MIA Bracelet Return

Any questions may be directed to Mr. Henley at -703-699-1100

Artwork: AII POW-MIA